The Federal Railroad Administration has greenlit a new high speed bullet train set to connect Texas’ two largest cities via a mere 90 minute journey Texas Central Railroad has announced. Construction is hopefully set to start within the first half of 2021. No construction can start as of now because Texas Central Railroad still needs to get more federal approval from the Federal Surface Transportation Board. Once that’s clear, they can break ground on this exciting new project.
The Texas Tribune wrote a piece on this exciting new project on September 21st, in it they say:
“The company estimates that the construction for the project will take up to six years, with a total cost of around $20 billion. The train will use the same technology as the Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan, which can reach speeds of more than 200 mph.”
In spite of the excitement, not everyone is looking forward to this new development. Many are highlighting concerns that the projects bring with it, like the cost, the displaced residents, farms, and business, and safety.
The Houston Chronicle also wrote about this new endeavour on September 21st, but their take is a little different, in it they say:
“ ‘This project has been flawed from the beginning and the FRA has ignored calls from concerned property owners, safety professionals, and even other rail companies,’ said Taylor Ward, spokesperson for ReRoute the Route, formed to oppose the project. ‘They hoped to break ground many many years ago,’ U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, told a crowd of train opponents on Feb. 19. ‘They are still saying they will break ground this year. No they will not.’ ”
Whether you’re in favor of the new high speed bullet train or not, Texas Central Railroad is looking fully prepared to make this plan a reality and they just got closer to making it so with federal approval. If they break ground next year, or more years from now, it looks like despite the fact that some believe that this project will be mired with delays, TCR has no plans of folding just yet.
